Assembly Resolution No. 620

BY: M. of A. Aubry

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
September 7, 2023, as Wheelchair Charities Day in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize days
set aside to acknowledge those illustrious organizations which serve
their communities unrelentingly, making life more fair, just, and
equitable for everyone, regardless of ability, race, gender, status, or
background; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 7, 2023, as
Wheelchair Charities Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Founder of Wheelchair Charities, Inc., Henry J. Carter,
commonly known as "Hank," saw an opportunity to make an impact in the
lives of countless people, namely teens and young adults, who he noticed
filled the Young Adults Ward at Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island
due to gunshot wounds; and

WHEREAS, Henry J. Carter started a fundraising basketball game with
the best high school players from Queens (Queens United) playing against
Brooklyn's best high school athletes (Brooklyn USA); the first game was
held in 1974, and with much traction and popularity, the fundraiser
grabbed the attention of sponsors such as Pony and Nike, allowing
Wheelchair Charities, Inc. to grow rapidly; and

WHEREAS, The founder of the charity also found great support and
friendship in the people he met and worked with at the Long Island
Savings Bank where he started as a teller and rose to be senior Vice
President; in 1979, with the first million-dollar donation the charity
ever received, coming from a generous Bob Dudley, Wheelchair Charities,
Inc. was able to purchase handicap-equipped buses and computers for the
Goldwater hospital patients and residents; and

WHEREAS, Fundraising dinners, high school basketball games, and
gospel shows became annual events, growing more popular and raising more
funds every year; in 1990, Wheelchair Charities, Inc. held a basketball
game in Madison Square Garden for the first time; the annual event at
the Garden continued for 14 incredible years; Gala Dinners proved to be
even more lucrative, bringing in between $800,000 and $1 million dollars
a year; and

WHEREAS, Henry J. Carter was thrilled when he learned that the new
city hospital in Harlem would be named in his honor; NYC Health +
Hospitals/Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility,
opened on August 21, 2013, and initially served many of the patients and
residents from Goldwater Hospital, which closed on December 31, 2013;
and

WHEREAS, This year the charity plans to purchase 110 new, motorized
wheelchairs for people in every borough of New York City, as well as to

purchase a new bus to transport wheelchair-bound patients; being an
organization run solely by volunteers has allowed the group to donate
over $30 million in the past 50 years to improve and enhance the lives
of people in wheelchairs; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 7, 2023, as
Wheelchair Charities Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Governor Kathy Hochul, and Henry J. Carter, Founder of
Wheelchair Charities, Inc.